6 hot illustration trends of 2016

We look back at some of the biggest trends in illustration over the last 12 months.

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When it comes to illustration, everyone has their own personal style. And across your career, developing that style and making it more representative of your own ‘inner voice’ should of course be your main priority, rather than slavishly following trends.

But that said, it’s still fascinating to see what’s happening in the wider world of illustration, and what kind of work is actually getting commissioned. So in this post, we round up 6 hot trends in illustration we’ve noticed spring up over the last 12 months.

If there’s a trend you think we’ve missed, though, please let us know in the comments below!

01. VR

Simon Silsbury finds out what new technology can do for illustrators

2016 has truly been the year of VR, and even illustrators have got in on the game, with the likes ofSimon Silsburysketching on a wall and then hopping straight into a HTC Vive headset to recreate the same live illustration (see the results inthis video). We also saw Christoph Nieman transformed his cover illustration for The New Yorker magazine into a360 degree VR animation, while new software such as Quill for the Oculus Rift provided a way for digital illustrators everywhere to conjure up new worlds by drawing and painting in mid-air.

02. Abstract

Chris Harman’s illustration for Hamburg design studio Hort

In many ways, the world of 2016 felt a little darker and disjointed, and this was reflected in a clear trend towards abstraction, subtraction and the surreal in the cutting edge corners of the illustration world. Examples of the trend can be seen in the weirdly disjointed and freeform work ofChris Harman (above); the blocky, lopsided cartoon characters ofJoel Plosz; the ink and watercolour-based soft forms ofEleni Kalorkoti, and the beautifully trashy abstractions ofAnna Beil.

04. Political

Mark Leibovich’s celebrated illustration for the New York Times Magazine

2016 has been a year dominated by political upheaval, and illustrators have responded in full voice. Mark Leibovich’s illustration for the New York Times Magazine feature "Will Trump Swallow the G.O.P Whole?" was among those getting the most attention (you can read more about how that was put togetherhere).

05. Collage

Taku Bannai’s collages are constructed with beautiful simplicity

Inventive and eye-catching collages seem to be proving an increasingly popular way for illustrators to raise attention for themselves on Instagram. We’ve particularly enjoyed the simple but artful work ofTaku Bannai (above); the collage comics ofSamplerman, the lo-fi creations of Jean Philippe Calver, and the gorgeously handcrafted work of Carlin Diaz.

06. Naughtiness

Brooklyn illustrator Cute Brute’s rude illustrations have garnered him a cult following

A new generation is emerging for whom hardcore porn and obscene pics on social media are more likely to evoke a shrug than shock. So it’s not surprising that illustration that veers towards to the saucy and scatalogical is abounding. Examples of the trend can be seen in the work of Brooklyn illustrator Cute Brute (above),Joe Schlaud’s seedy Karma Sutra gifs, Teresa Orazio’sMoonmambo series, Jade Shulz’s collection ofVideo Vixen drop caps and Josh McKenna’sglobal warming campaign for Mother London.